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I couldn't have lived in the Wild West. Nor could I have cut it in colonial America or the Industrial Revolution. I know this about myself for numerous reasons, not the least of which is running water and a private bathroom. I also know I couldn't have survived in the working conditions back then. And luckily for me, I don't have to! And even if work environments have changed significantly since then, I've found that sometimes we still lose sight of that in today's working world. We do have a choice when it comes to our jobs. We do not just have to slot into a role and conditions that create friction in our lives. I set out to do this when I transitioned professionally into being a "digital nomad." I'm sharing what I've learned so far in this journey so the leap may be less scary for others!
Control over my schedule is really important to me. It's my number one priority regarding work/life balance (check out how I got into animal care as a side hustle because of it). I also really value travel and exploring new and old destinations. My evolution into a digital nomad freelancer has allowed me to do this almost uninhibited. In the last two years, I've traveled to Italy, Germany, Hawaii, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New Orleans and explored my home state of Colorado's fantastic mountain towns like Breckenridge and Estes Park. Sometimes, I work while I'm in these locations, and sometimes, I don't, which is another perk of control over my schedule. Becoming a digital nomad has given me that freedom. I also have more choices over my day-to-day schedule, which leads me to my next point.
Because I have such flexibility in the locations and times that I can work in, I've been able to leverage my animal care and freelance work to multiply what I earn in a day while prioritizing non-work hours. For example, if I am housesitting for a couple of dogs from Thursday to Saturday, I intentionally save my freelance work until those days. That way, I'm getting paid to hang out with my cute animal friends AND for the content work I'm doing on my laptop in their owner's living room. I also enjoy the days I'm not working on anything with this scheduling strategy. And this even allows me to show up for other people in my life and their significant events more regularly. One aspect to keep in mind on the flip side of this point is I need to hold myself accountable for meeting the minimum amount of work or hours that I need to meet my expenses. There also needs to be the demand and continued client interest for my income streams. But once those elements become a stable part of your disciplined routine, it's a really efficient way to maximize income and well-being.
Another cool thing I can do as a digital nomad is barter my skillsets to engage my passion for travel. Friends in other cities and states have asked me to stay in their houses (and eat their snacks and use their vehicles) to watch their animals. Because of this, I had one of the loveliest birthday trips to San Diego, staying in a friend's cozy house in their adorably quaint neighborhood. More formally, apps like Trusted Housesitters allow you to travel internationally with free lodging in exchange for caring for the animals living there! Getting to go to the south of France to hang out with a Golden Retriever? I'm there. And while this might not be the most profitable strategy for the long term (I do need actual cash at some point to cover housing, vehicles, etc.), my quality of life has improved exponentially since transitioning out of the corporate world and into a digital nomad.
A love for animals may or may not be something you relate to, but either way, try to think outside the box about what your next chapter might look like professionally as a digital nomad. Start by making a list and hold yourself accountable for your values. How can you take your interests and create an opportunity that allows you to work while prioritizing other values simultaneously? What is most important to you, and what is least important? Maybe flexibility means something else to you, as well. I like to travel and go on adventures in my free time, but perhaps a SAHM needs the flexibility to remain present in her life and family time! Wherever you are, recognize it and get as close as possible to meeting what you need from work, digital and beyond.
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